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Who is the most best conga player or latin percussionist of all time?
By kevin | July 21, 2008
My recent informal poll on the greatest drummer of all time brought out some interesting answers – some respondents named great percussionists like Tito Puente and Alex Acuna in the list.. so I thought… why not have a new poll focussing on the greatest exponents of hand percussion and latin percussion that are around?
Please vote below, or if you’d like to nominate someone who isn’t on this list please leave a comment and I’ll add them.
Loading ...Topics: Bongo Drums, Conga Drums, Hand Drumming, Latin Percussion | 26 Comments »
July 23rd, 2008 at 7:27 am
Airto Moreira is fantastic and very creative (check out his tribute to Miles Davis on “Electric Miles”), and I also like Manolo Badrena (Joe Zawinul always had great percussionists in his bands; Alec Acuna, Dom Um Romao, Mino Cinelu).Marilyn Mazur is pretty cool too.
August 9th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
WHERE IS PATATO VALDEZ ,MONGO SANTAMARIA AND RAY BARRETO?tHEIR BODIES MAY HAVE PASSED ON BUT THEIR LEGACY NEVER DIES ..
November 30th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I think your poll reveals that you don’t really know that much about latin percussion or conga-players. And Marilyn Mazur is not a latin percussionist (she is incredibly talented, but what she does has nothing to do with latin perc.) Same applies to Trilok Gurtu.
All round “latin”percussionists top 3: Airto Moreira, Paulinho da Costa, Ralph McDonald
Conga Player top 5: Jorge “el Niño” Alfonso, Tata Guines, José Luis Quintana (Changuito), Patato Valdes, Mongo Santamaria
December 16th, 2008 at 6:32 pm
Greetings percussionists.I agree with all the posts.It is extremly difficult if not impossible to speak of one of these percussionists mentioned and ignore the other because of the contribution each has made to the development of the artform.There are so many names not even mentioned.I deal with this by saluting them all and acknowledging their unique gifts which i am so honoured to be inspired by.There work is greater than any poll. BLESSINGS
December 20th, 2008 at 1:57 am
where on this list is Mongo?
December 20th, 2008 at 1:58 am
And where is Billy Cobham
December 20th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Sorry I see Billy. I vote for Mongo.
January 24th, 2009 at 4:04 am
Not on your list, but has played with Pete Escovedo, goes
Nick Nardolillo. He owns a club in California.
Fastest hands I have ever seen. And his rhythm transitions are
smooth as silk.
JT
April 23rd, 2009 at 2:45 am
ray barreto is the undisputed king.
April 28th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
There are no ands ifs or buts. There was only one drummer that counted. One drummer said it all. One drummer. No school . No drum book. No teacher could figure out???? Because he played so complex that on one could figure out what he was playing or doing? Because no one repeat no one could come close to this man in ideas in speed in all around drumming. ???? Who was that man??? Buddy Rich. over said and done. Buddy Rich.
May 4th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Not mentioned….but has played with the BEST artists is Tim “Timbali” Cornwell. He is the BEST EVER!!! If you don’t know him….you should!
May 4th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
What about Jose Rossy?
June 4th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
THE BEST ON THE CONGAS AND TIMBAL IS JOSE LUIS QUINTANA(CHANGUITO)
July 30th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
The question is wrong. Most of those people aren’t “conga Players”.
Tito- Vibes and Timbales, Giovanni-Conga, Airto- brazilian perc and drumset, TRilok- tabla and weird drumset, Alex Acuna- mostly drumset, Manolo- light all around, Dom- brazilian, Mino- light all around.
August 15th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
EDDIE MONTALVO
August 15th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
EDDIE MONTALVO IS A WELL KNOWN PLAYER…HE IS FOR KEEPING TIME WHEN PLAYING WITH MANY BANDS. HE HAS RECORDED OVER 100 ALBUMS. PLAYED FOR THE FANIA ALL STARS SINCE 1979, AND ALSO THE YOUNGEST PLAYER TO TAKE PART IN THE FANIA. HE HAS PLAYED WITH HECTOR LAVEO SINCE 1977, ALSO RECORDED WIT CELIA CRUZ,WILLIE COLON, TONYPABRON, JOOEY PASTRANA, AND LOS KIMBOS.
HE WAS ALSO IN THE BAND WITH PETE EL CONDE, AND JOHNNYPACHECO. HE IS AN ORGINIAL PLAYER FOR RUBEN BLADES Y SEIS DEL SOLAR. HE IS ALSO THE MAN WHO PLAYED CONGAS IN PEDRO NAVAJA. THIS IS AN ICON….
August 15th, 2009 at 8:52 pm
Eddie Montalvo Took over Ray barretto place and has gone beyond what others, up to this date can achieve. LONG LIVE THE PRESENT KING!
September 4th, 2009 at 10:47 pm
The Greatest Conga player in the World (outside of Giovanni Hidalgo) has NOT been heard yet….if u want a serious list u have to add
Tata Guines
Chano Pozo
Mongo Santamaria(90 albums/Grammy winner and signed to no less than 9 different record lables, in his time)..No other Conga player today has ever done that.
Ray Barretto(Gold record/Grammy winner/over 1,ooo albums/also signed to at least 5 different record labels in his time)
Candido Camero
Armando Peraza
Fransisco Aguabella
Frankie Malabe
Patato Valdes
El Nino Alfonso(Irakere)
ANGA Diaz
Eliel Lazo
Pepi Espinosa
Pakito Baeza
and so many more…..
November 4th, 2009 at 7:01 am
some of the greats, Willie Bobo, Babatunde Olatunji, the ‘Doctor’ Barnett Williams, Bobby Matos, Larry McDonald. there is no end to the names. we should celebrate the lives of those gone and support those who are still with us.
December 25th, 2009 at 11:12 am
It is difficult to rate one great conguero in comparison with another. There are so many whose work I truly enjoy, and from whom I have learned so very much. Names of players whose work lives on should include:
1. Chano Pozo
2. Tata Guines
3. Mongo Santamaria
4. Armando Perraza
5. Carlos “Patato” Valdez
6. Candido Camero
7. Francisco Aguabella
8. Ray Barretto
9. Many Ashanti Master Drummers
10. Sheila Escovedo
11. Pancho Sanchez
12. Luis Conte
13. Chalo Eduardo
14. Bobby Matos
15. Jerry Steinholtz
16. Mike Pacheco
17. Jerry Gonzalez
18. Paulino De Costa
19. Desi Arnez (when he wasn’t being funny, he was amazing)
20. Tata Wena
50 years from now, it is likely that Mongo and Pancho’s work will be the most widely known, but as other posters on this site have said correctly, there are many more players with great technique and musicianship whose work is wonderful. Its great to listen to and play with as many as possible.
December 31st, 2009 at 6:19 pm
what about Osvaldo Fattoruso, i’m not sure if he’s of all time, but i can’t believe that he’s not even listed here.
March 27th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
For me one of the best conga player is
Rolando Salgado Palacio ”el Nino mentira” from Cuba.Unique and strong style.
The other one is Miguel Anga Diaz.
April 10th, 2010 at 11:09 pm
Ray Barretto NUMBER ONE salsa/jazz percussionist/composer.
I actually don’t understand how one can confond a composer like him with some other unknown ones. I can understand others might have higher techniques, but whose are the songs they have been playing? Who is the genius? Which band were they part of?
April 14th, 2010 at 4:24 pm
No list is accurate without including Mongo Santamaria. He influenced everyone who seriously plays congas today. Armando, Tata, and Potato must be in the top ten for conga players. Also, don’t forget Jesus Alphonso from the Munequitos. Sany Perez, who lives in the Bay Area, is a world class conga player– one of the best; not as flashy as Giovani Hidalgo or Changuito, but definitely equal in ability. Armando was great, but he was better as a bongo player. Barretto was very good but not in the same class as the others I mentioned.
June 1st, 2010 at 5:07 am
I would like to add on to the list Papo Pepin. They say he was one of the first to use the 3 congas an really experiment the different sounds an of course his most noticable the SLAP. Not only is he a legand in many arts an all over NY an the world, He is known as the Man with the swing like no other.. This man gave Gio his first real teaching back when he was just a kid… trust me… this man has been around for years… he is def the REAL DEAL!! Should be listed as the top 5 Conga/ Percussiniost in the world bar none.
June 7th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
You can now make a list without placing the person who taught Giovani, David “La Mole” Ortiz. Don’t believe it, Look at his videos in youtube. We are talking about the master here.